Aviation workers have given airline operators and other organisations that have failed to remit the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) a final seven-day deadline to clear their outstanding obligations or face nationwide picketing.

The ultimatum was issued by the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) after a previous 14-day notice, issued on July 8, expired on July 23 without compliance from the affected operators.

The Ticket Sales Charge is a statutory levy deducted from every airline ticket sold in Nigeria. The proceeds are remitted to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and distributed among aviation agencies to support their operations and meet financial commitments.

In a joint statement signed by ATSSSAN General Secretary Frances Akinjole and NUATE Deputy General Secretary Odinaka Igbokwe, the unions accused defaulting airlines and other debtors of deliberately failing to remit the funds despite repeated warnings.

According to the unions, the continued withholding of the charges has deprived aviation agencies of critical funding needed to maintain efficient operations and improve workers’ welfare.

They warned that the financial strain on the agencies could undermine the safety and security of Nigeria’s aviation industry, arguing that inadequate funding affects both operational standards and staff motivation.

The unions maintained that the prolonged non-remittance of the statutory deductions has weakened the ability of aviation agencies to carry out their responsibilities effectively, describing the situation as a growing risk to the country’s airspace.

ATSSSAN and NUATE said they would no longer tolerate the continued default and announced that any airline or organisation that fails to settle the outstanding payments within the seven-day period would be subjected to picketing at its business premises.

The workers insisted that prompt remittance of the Ticket Sales Charge is essential to sustaining the operations of aviation agencies and ensuring the continued safety, security, and efficiency of Nigeria’s air transport sector.